Bottom construction for bedsprings and the like



April 5, 1932. R. FERGUSON 1,852,511

BOTTOM CONSTRUCTION FOR BEDSPRINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2, 1927 All Al 4 F76. 4 //7Ve/7/0r Fey/haw Feryason /6 E6; 5 /6 flew),

i atentecl Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGINALD FERGUSON,OI MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO SIMMONS LIMITED, 01' MONTREAL,QUEBEC, CANADA BOTTOM CONSTRUCTION FOR BEDSPRINGS AND THE LIKEApplication filed November 2, 1927. Serial No. 230,664.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in bed springs and bedbottoms, and more particularly to springs of the upright spiral-helicaltype.

The main object of the invention is to pro vide greater resiliency nearthe ends of the spring where but little weight is carried than at thecentre where the greater part of the weight is carried, thereby toeliminate centrally localized sagging in use.

In the manufacture of bed springs of the upright coil type, the aimheretofore has been to make the spring bottom upon which the uprightcoils rest such as to give uni formly rigid support to the coils.Departure from this aim has been in the direction of less rigidity atthe centre of the spring due to yielding of the spring bottom when underload and has been avoided as far as possible owing to the disadvantagethat it induces a central sag in the spring top. WVhen sufiicientlyrigid bottom construction and sufiiciently stiff coils are used to avoidexcessive sagging in the centre where the greatest weight is carried,the ends of the spring where but little weight is carried are lacking inresiliency and the efiect or sensation is much the same as if anexcessive sag existed.

According to this invention, instead of stiiiening the centre part ofthe spring, the resiliency of the ends is increased, so that the springyields at the ends to approximately the same extent as it yields in thecentre. In this way, back straining sagging is eliminated and the springbecomes more comfortable to sleep on, by reason of resiliency at theends instead of rigidity. The result is obtained by use of flexible orresilient bottom supports for the upright coils toward the ends of thespring, while rigid bottom supports are used in the central part of thestructure. If desired, the upright coils resting on the flexiblesupports may be more resilient than the coils resting 011 the rigidsupports but, ordinarily, this is not necessary and from a manufacturingpoint of View is not desirable.

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention but tothe details of which the invention is not confined Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a bed spring bot tom formed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the spring bottomat the line 2-2 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 ofFigure 1 and on the same scale as Figure 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate various forms of resilient coil supports.

Referring more particularly to the draW ings, 11 designates the siderails of a bed spring bottom, which are of any suitable material andcross section, and 12 designates a series of rigid transverse members ofany suitable material and cross section connected between the side railsat the ends and at the central parts thereof. Toward the ends of thebottom frame, resilient and preferably flexible transverse members 13are connected between the side rails. While only one resilient member 13has been shown toward each end of the spring bottom, it will be 7understood that the number may be increased as necessary or desirable.

The resilient members may of forms of which the most simple isillustrated in Figure 1,11amely, a spring wire connected at its ends tothe side rails and formed in its central part into a helical spring 14.While only one spring is shown in the length of the support, it will beunderstood that the number and arrangement of the springs may as bevaried as desired, for example, as shown in Figure 4, wherein springsare formed toward both ends of the support leaving the centre plain. Inany wire support the spring or springs 14 may be formed integral withthe wire or otherwise, as desired. A further form of resilient supportis shown in Figure 5 and includes a bar 15 and springs 16 at the endsthereof to resiliently support the bar between the side rails. Thesprings 16 may be connected to the bar 15 and to the side rails in anyway desired.

The upright spring units 17 of the bed spring rest upon the supports 12and 13 and are tied thereto in any usual or suitable mantake a varietyner, for example, by locking wires 18 extending longitudinally of thebottom frame.

When a person lies upon the spring, the rigidly supported upright springunits in the central part Where the greatest load is located arecompressed and the spring top (not shown) tends to sag in the centre.The resiliently supported upright spring units under the sleepers headand feet are somewhat compressed and are 'in addition "moved bodilydownward as the supports yiel d with the result that the spring top .ispressed downward at the head andfoo't of the spring to approximately thesame extent as the central part. The usual sensation of a sagged springis not experienced, because the sag has been extended under the sleeperswhole body instead ofbeing concentrated .underithe trunk. In this way,the .much desired restfulfeeling of lying-on a level surfaceisexperienced,together with the comfort of lying-on a freely resilientspring. It will thus be seen that, instead of opposing the centralsagging with uncomfortably rigid structures, the central part of thespringis allowed-to sagvaud'the sagging is invited at orextended to theiQIldS of the spring.

A great advantage of the present invention is that in its simple forms,it reducesthe cost ofbed springs and may therefore be'app'liedequally-to the cheapest and to the most expensive springs and to uprightcoil springs of all types, whereas efiorts formerly made to stiffensprings against sagging added materially to the cost and were thereforenot applicable to cheaper grades of springs.

tral parts of said side rails, wires connected to and extending betweenthe side rails toward the ends thereof, said wires including helicallyformed spring portions, upright coil springs mounted on said bars andwires, and locking wires binding the-coilsprings to the bars and firstnamed wires .and means connecting the tops of said upright coil springs.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. r REGINALD FERGUSON.

While the invention relates primarily to bed springs-of the uprightcoil-type, it is applicable in principle to and extends to other typesof bed bottoms, particularly .side supported fabric bottoms.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 2-.-

.1. A bed spring comprising side rails,

rigid members rigidly connected to the (1e11 .tral parts of said siderails ;and.extending transversely from rail :to rail and flexible wiresincluding helical springs connected .to the rails toward the endsthereofand extending transversely from rail to railiand-upright springunit supported on said rigid' and flexible members and means connectingthe tops of said upright c011 springs.

2. A bed spring compr1s1ng side.ra1ls,,flat

bars disposed edge up and rigidly connected "to the central parts ofsaid side rails,

and wires connected to the side rails toward the :ends thereof, saidwires including helically formed spring portions and upright ,coilsprings supported on :said bars and wires and means connecting the .topsof said upright coil springs.

3. .In a bed spring, the-'combinationiof side -rails,fflat bars'disposedaedget up and rigidly connected to. and extending betweenthe-cen-

